Sign-displaying device.



W. S. RYAN. SIGN DISPLAYING-DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1008.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR MzTE/a J. Ryml.

Patented June 29, 1909.

ZTNESSES:

A TTOPNEY W. S. RYAN.

SIGN DISPLAYING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION IILED SEPT. 11, 190B.

Patented June 29, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR M4152 6. RYAN,

4 W X 00000 o ooouo ooooo 0 00000 cocoa 2 o o o o a o o o o o B B o o a o o oo o c o e o o o a 00.. o of. o o. o a e o oo o o O c O 0 u 00000 O O 0 O 0 O 00 O 0 mvp U w :1 .I.. 2. 2: 1: 1.. 2 .I S I I I .I "Mr ll I S E M 1 C 4 3 w d C W M mf 9 3 w I a 3 W KB. 15 I 3 Q 0 0 o III B I! I ATTORNEY ms cums PETERS cm. WAsHINmAL v. c.

tin irnn s'rarns PATENT @lhltiftlliii.

XVALTER S. RYAN, OF MUNUllG, INDlANA, AbSlGNOlt T0 RYAN UONSTRUOTION COMPANY, OF MUNClE, INDIANA, A CORIOlL X'llON.

SIGN-DISPLAYING DEVICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1909.

T 0 all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, Vl ALTE-R S. RYAN, a citizen of the United States, and residing in the city of hiluncie, Delaware county, Indiana, have invented a new andv useful Sign- Displaying Device, of which invention the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in display devices that are adapted to be re.- volved or rotated, the sign to be displayed being borne upon the faces of the device.

Objects of the present invention are to provide a sign-displaying device of the general character referred to, which will display the sign effectively by night as well as by day, and to these ends, further and more specific objects of my invention are to provide a device of the kind referred to, which will be not liable to get out of repair or adjustment and which will be light in weight, economical of manufacture, strong and (hirable.

These and othe objects which will become apparent as the specification of my invention is disclosed, are accomplished by the construction, combination and arrangement of parts described in this specification, and definitely pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a side view of my improved rotary sign displaying device complete. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 22, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow, in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 Fig. 1. Fig. l 1s a detached enlarged sectional view of the bearing, and electrical connections therefor. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional iew showing in detail the intermediate arrangement and connections employed when the sign display body is of a length greater than that shown in Fig. 1 and wherein more than one of the linolite lamps is used. Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line 6 6 Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a horizontal transverse sectional view of a modification.

The body of this sign displaying device is of the proper general proportions as shown. The side plates A made of sheet metal of suitable thickness have the transverse line of curvature and the wings A as shown in Fig.

3, and are secured in the manner hereinafter described, to the end plates B. Each of the said side plates has the tongue A" and the edge of the wing is bent upon itself to form the lip A. V

The end plates 13 are made of cast metal, preferably of brass; and have a centrally (lisposed hole B and the annular shoulder 13* thcreabout. l3 designates a ridge formed on each of these plates and grooved to re.- ceive the end of the side plates A as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 and Fig. 6. In constructing the said body the ends of the side plates are placed so as to reside in the grooves of the ridges B by this arrangement the assembling of the parts is greatly facilitated, and the position of each part with reference to that of the other is at once accurate. Solder is then applied about the outer edge of the ridge whereby the parts are bound securely together. The body proper which so formed is compact and substantial and will not warp or be strained out of alinement, and thus is adapted to be pivotally supported so that it may move rotatably as will be hereinafter referred to. The curvature andv general form of these side plates are such that the interior portions of the plate will reside such proper distance apart that the linolite electric lamp 0 may be inserted in the central position as plainly shown in. Fig. 3 and Fig. (3, and will be hereinafter referred to.

The plates D arranged substantially as shown, and which are removably disposed are adapted to close the space between the tongue A and the line of the bend of the wing A. The ends of these plates i) will lie snugly against the ridges B on the end plates, so that an accurate and close fitting ointure of these parts is accomplished. On each of the plates 1) are delineated the letters or characters composing the sign to be displayed. By this construction is provided a rotatable body for the purpose described, which has in addition to the foregoing advantages, the further feature of being exceedingly sensitive to moving air currents.

Each of the plates 1) is provided on its one edge with the flange D bent at an acute angle, the other edge being bent upon itself and having a return bend whereby the mouth D is formed, the functions of which flange and mouth will hereinafter be made clear. Secured at intervals upon the internal faces of ceases the wings A are the spring clips E the free ends of which stand slightly apart from the wing and which engage tie flange D of the plate D. Slight indentations A as shown. in Fi 7, in the wings A near the line of the bend thereof are a modified form of arrangement whereby the outer edge of this plate i) may be retained after being pressed into lace. By this snug engagement of the plate 3) with the ton ue A of the side plate and the similar snug ct removable engagement at its outer side, with the body plate the erllcient jointure and easy removability of these plates D is apparent. he motion of the body will not loosen the plates 1) in the least. To remove these plates it is only necessary to strain the spring clips E slightly, or in case the indentation is used, to spring the wing A slightl", and the outer edge of the plate D may be withdrawn and the plate removed.

Delineated upon the face of each of the plates D by perforating or otherwise cutting away the metal, are the characters which compose the sign to be displayed. VJitl'iin the outlines of these characters are provided the perforations G suitably spaced so that when the light chambers ii are illuminated the sign will be luminous. The preferable construction of this knid of sign is to have the letters raised upon the sign face, a sign so constructed being much more serviceable than one where the letters are merely painted. By virtue of having the sign plate of sulficient stiffness and easily removable, a sign of either plain or .fsed letters may available. In the form of construction of the sign that l have deemed preferable, and which is shown in this application, the characters are made of cast metal that is light in weight, preferably of aluminum, the perforations being formed therein when the characters are cast; small studs that are formed integrally upon the rear side of these characters are adapted to pass through holes punched in the plate D therefor. It is obvious that the plates D may thus be easily prepared by the accurate punching to gage, for the reception of such characters as are desired. The characters are then laid in position and by the heads F formed on the rear side of the plate, are secured in place. Then the perforations are formed, preferably b punching, and the plates D with the sign thereon are in readiness to be placed in position as shown in the drawings, particularly in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. 6.

The support arms 1 are of suitable design and structure and in the continuous open recess 1 formed in each of them may be re- -tained the electric wires hereinafter referred to. lllach of these support arms is provided with the housing K and is adapted to be secured to the wall plate L which is of suitable length with reference to the length of the sign displaying body. The ends of the conduit l communicate with the recesses 1 thereby making a neat and practical housing for electric wiring leading to the head bolts to be presently referred to.

Centrally disposed on the outer and inner face of each of the end plates B are the bushings M made of insulating material such as porcelain. The cup N which is covered with insulating material has the threaded central apertures N and is provided with the machined annular recess N To secure the bushing M and the cup N in proper position the body bolt 0 that has the flat head 0 is passed through the bushings and screwed into the cup N whereby the faces of the bushings are brought into close engagement with the faces of the end plates, and all of these connected parts are held firmly together. This body bolt is threaded right or left to accord with the direction of movement intended for the sign displaying body, so that possible tendency of the said bolt to work loose is thus overcome.

The bushings P are held in position in the housings K by the set screws The bearing head it which has the threaded aperture BR and the track l 2 when screwed down on the head bolts S is brought into tight engagement with the bushing l Between the cup N and the bearing head R and adapted to move on the track R are the balls T. Each of the wires U is soldered to the head bolts S and is covered by the usual proper insulation. These wires are carried by the support arms and by the conduit 1 Disposed vertically in central position, as shown in Fig. 3, and with its conductive ends in contact with the heads of the body bolts there being the intervening spring V arranged so as to afford a dependable contact at all times, is the linolite incandescent lamp 0 the function of which is to illuminate the light chambers ll. As a means of illumination for this rotatable body, the utility of the linolite lamp is apparent. The line of the filament therein being central and substantially straight from end to end of the lamp it is unaffected by centrifugal forces and therefore is not subject to abnormal breakage or wear; moreover, the difference in polarity of the opposite ends of this lamp being utilized by the construction as hereinafter described, makes it especially vailable as an interio'rly disposed illuminating means.

To assemble the respective parts in readiness for operation, the head bolts S and bush ings P are secured in position, the lower support arm and the body proper being held in inverted position until the balls T are inserted and being then reversed. the upper cup N are then placed and with the upper bearing head in the position as shown and the frame arms and wall plate secure, the parts of my invention are in readiness for operation.

The balls for W designates a hard fiber ring disposed as shown at the ends of the lamp, the function of which rings are merely to prevent the lamp from shifting transversely from its position of contact with the heads of the body bolts 0. The lamp being placed in its proper position as shown, the display plates D are then inserted into place; the mouth D will engage the tongue A of the side plate. By slight pressure against the face of the sign plate the edge of the flange D passes beyond the ends of the spring clips E which then impinge against and sustain the sign plate immovably in correct position.

The interior surfaces of the side plates and display plates are coated white so that the power of the side plates to reflect the light directly against the rear side of the display plate, and which are of curvature designed to give the maximum efficiency, may be mtensilied. By this e'fhcient utilization of the light emanated by the lamp, the illumination thus accomplished renders the sign characters of uniform and effective brilliancfv. A very decided advantage in my invention is that sign plates of different delineations may be had and easily placed and replaced. In this illustration of my invention I have shown it embodied in one of the smaller sized sign bodies, but it will be understood that the invention is of utility and practical application to larger sized signs, and in the application thereto a plurality of the linolite lamps are employed. To elfect a correct union of these lamps I provide the coupling plate 10, as shown in Fig. 6. This coupling plate has the central hole 11 By having the ridges 12 the placement of the insulator 13 is facilitated. A similar insulator 13 is disposed on the underside of the plate and by the bolt 14 these insulators and plate are secured together. The bolt being of conductive material and of proper length a practical electrical connection is formed for the ends of the lamps on the opposite sides of the couplings, as plainly shown in Fig. 5. T he legs 10 are of proper length and flanged to serve as a brace and stiffener for the side plates and to hold the structure in correct alineinent. My invention may be employed with equally good elfect in a display body having more than two display faces, as shown in the modification illustrated in 7, where the light chambers for three display plates or faces are provided.

v l hat I. claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A rotary sign displaying body, a sup port member therefor, an electric lamp disposed therein, a conductive pivotal member on the said body and insulated therefrom adapted to ailord electrical connections for the lamp, a conductive pivotal member carried by the support and insulated therefrom and adapted to engage mechanically and electrically the pivotal member of said body.

2. A rotary sign displaying body, support members therefor, a linolite lamp disposed centrally therein, a conductive pivotal member on each end of said body and insulated therefrom, said pivotal members adapted to electrically engage the ends of said linolite lamp, a conductive pivotal member carried by each of the support meml'iers and adapted to engage mechanically and electrically the pivotal i'nembers of the said body.

A rotary displaying device comprising a closed rotatable l 0( y, the sign bearing plate. of which are arranged substantially radially and the sign being delineated by perforations therein, a linolite lamp disposed substantially parallel with the said sign bearing plates, curved rellecting plates to partially surround the said lamp and, to reside at the rear of each of the sign bearing plates.

i. A displaying device of the kind described comprising a rotatably disposed body having perforated sign plates disposed substantially radially, a body plate arranged at the rear side of each sign plate and connected thereto at its outer portion, the interior edge of the body plate adapted to engage the inner edge of the other sign plate whereby light chambers are formed at the rear of each sign plate, and an electrical illuminating device centrally disposed in the body so formed, substantially as described.

5. ln rotary displaying devices, a sign display body comprising a pair of end plates, curved body plates that have their ends secured to said end plates, and their outer edges being bent to form wings, sign bearing plates removably engaging the inner edge of one body plate and the line of the bend of the wing of the other body plate.

(5. In rotary displaying devices, a sign display body comprising a pair of end plates, curved body plates that have their ends secured to the end plates and their outer edges being extended and bent at an angle, illmuminating devices disposed between said body plates, sign bearing plates engaging the inner edge of one body plate and the angular edge of the other body plate.

7. In displaying devices of the kind described, the combination with a support, of a rotatably disposed body comprising a pair of end plates, a plurality of curved body plates having their inner edges disposed apart from each other, a linolite electric lamp disposed between the inner portions of said body plates, perforated sign display plates each having its edges secured to the inner edge and the outer portion of said body plates, electrical connections through the bearings of said device, for said linolite lamp, substantially as described.

8. In displaying devices of the kind described, the combination With a support, of a-rotatably disposed body comprising a pair of end plates, a plurality of curved body plates having their inner edges disposed apart from each other, a linolite electric lamp disposed between the inner portions of said body plates, perforated sign display plates having their edges secured to the inner edge and the outer portion of said body plates, non-conductive bushing on each side of each end plate, bearing heads, a conductive bolt to pass through each pair of said non-conductive bushings and to bind the end plates, bushing and bearing head all securely together, a non-conductive bushing disposed in said support, a bearing head on the support, a conductive bolt to pass through the said bushing and to engage said bearing head and to bind the bushing and said bearing head securely together, all substantially as described.

9. A rotary sign displaying body, a support member therefor, an electric lamp disposed therein, a non-conductive bushing secured to the end of said body, a bearing head, a' conductive member to pass through said non-conductive bushing and to bind the bushing and the bearing head securely to gether, a non-conductive bushing disposed in said support member, a bearing head on said support, a conductive member to pass through and to bind the said bushing and bearing head securely together, substantially as described.

10. A rotary sign displaying body coinprising end-plates, support members therefor, a non-conductive bushing on each side'- the said bushing and bearing head of each of the support members, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I s1gn my name to this specification in the presence of two sub scribing Witnesses.

WALTER S. RYAN.

Witnesses ETHEL L. Lrs'rnn, THOMAS L. RYAN. 

